Apparatus for curing tire-casings



F. J. GOSTLIN. APPARATUS FOR CURI NG TIRE CASINGS'. I

APPLICATION FI'LED mm-i919. I I

Patented May 17, 1921.

- H farrenarnsfirou;

Be it knownthat 1,,FREDERIGK J Go'srrmn,

a citizenfof the. United States,;residing-at 1 Akron,, in the gc'ountypf Summitand State of "'Ohi ofhave"inventedcertain newnnd useful flmpifovements: in:.- A"pparatus Ifor rGurin'g Thl's inventlon relates tomolchhg or ouring apparatus for pneumatlc. tire casings,

In the manufacture of cord tire ca'sings, the usual method is to build or form the easing around a suitable core, then remove the core, and insert an inflatable air bag. The casing and air bag are then placed on a base ring comprising a pair of complementary sections and having annular shoulders to hold the casing in place, and the bag-inflatcd so as to round outthe casing and maintain it under-proper tension while being cured or vulcanized. In carrying out this method,-it has been found in actual practice,

however,

that it'is very difficult to properly center the air bag on the base ring, and it frequently one side, thus causing one bead portion of the tire casing to be the other.

' It is the object of the present invention, therefore, to provide means whereby tire casings having bead portions of exactlyythe same width or thickness may always be produced, without chance of failure.

To this end the invention contemplates the thicker or wider than use of a sectional base ring having a central annular groove adapted ,to receive the inner edge or toe portion of the air bag, whereby theair bag is accurately centered, and prevented from shifting to either side.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section through my improved curing apparatus showing a tire casing in position thereon; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, parts sc'ale Referring to "the drawings in detail,

being broken away; and

ig. 3 is a transverse section on a reduced showing'the base ring detached.

represents the tire casing which in this instance is illustrated as a cord tire and B designates the usual reinforcing head which f l hp plication filed. April 2, 1919. seii ai iidzaieao.

casing as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

happens that such bag slips tossess-em; 3; steam; or unable; .9 10, Assamese manor,v ANIiMEsNn 'Assmm v is shown; as formed ofai of strands C, designates the base a of wire, orv the like.

ensure COMPANY; or] Anson, ionic, A :couroharroir or.

" Specificationoi i'iett'e'rsPatent; ,Patnt M ym,

or heelof the tire'in' which. thereinforcing;

beadiis embedded, V I

Thet e casing A is first constructed by designated by the reference. numeral 1 inserted' in theflca sing; This air bag is quite similar to anordinary inner tube except that it"is somewhat stronger, preferably contain- I I being built around a suitablerigid form.

ing fabric reinforcement as indicated atfl2.

The inner edge 3 of the air ba projects beyond the plane of the base (J of the tire The casing assembled 'upon the air bag is then placed in position on'my improved sectional basering. This'ring comprises complementary halves or sections l and 5 and each ring section is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 6 by means of which the sections are secured together by the use of bolts 7.

Each ring section is, as usual, provided with a flat or cylindrical portion 8 and with an outer annular flange or shoulder 8, the portions 8 and 8 constituting bead-forming surfaces, against which the base or heel of the tire casing rests. The novelty of the present invention, however, resides in the fact that the peripheral portions or corner edges of the ring sections are cut away ad.-

jacent their meeting faces to 'form a central, annular. groove9. This groove may be of any desired cross-section but is shown as rectangular. I

Whenthe casing and air bag are assembled on'the ring as shown in Fig. 1 it will be seen that the toe or inner portion 3 of the air bag projects down into the groove 9 and that'the air bag is thereby accurately centered with respect to the ring and prevented from shifting laterally.v By virtue of this construction the distance between the air bag and the shoulder 8 v is the same on both sides, and as a result, the bead portions of the tire casing which are received between the fiangesS and the air bag must necessarily be of the same width. f

It will be understood that after the tire casing has been assembled on the air bag A and ring as shown it is inclosed in an annular mold, the air bag is inflated, and the whole apparatus placed in a suitable vulcanizi'ng device where the casing is cured.

I have found that with my improved construction there are no seconds result -ing from one bead portion being wider than the other, and also that the air bag is prevented froln wrinkling or puckering, with the result that a single a r bag can be used for curlng a much greater number of casings than heretofore, before it is necessary.

to discard the same.

'hat I claim is V 1. Apparatus for curing tire casings comprising a base ring split on a median plane to form a pair of complementary sections,

the peripheral portion of said sections adand held in position thereby, whereby said head portions of the casing are properly and svmmetrically spaced.

2. A tire bead-forming ring having inner corner edge cut away. a

' 3. A tire bead-forming "ring having inner corner edge recessed. P i 4. A tire bead-forming ring having inner corner edge cut away by a groove. 4 5. A pair of bead forlning rings having peripheral bead-forniing surfaces and pinviding between said surfaces a recess to receive a flexible form.

its

its

groove or 6. A pair of bead-formii'ig rings having a peripheral bead-forming surfaces and ,pro-

for clamping said rings together.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si 7, ature FREDERICK J GOS LIN viding between said surfaces a groove or recess to receive a fiQXlblQ'fOl'IIl, and means; 

